Carbonator.



A. L. KOENIG.

CARBONATOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR.20. 1914.

1,291,554;- Patented Jan. 14,1919.

6 SHEETS-SHEET I.

A. L. KOENIG.

CARBONATOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 20, 1914.

Patented Jan. 14,1919.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Kaila e By W 56 ATTOR/VEU' Patented Jan. 14, 1919.

A. L. KOENIG.

CARBONATOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR.20. I914.

' A. L. KOENIG.

CABBONATOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR.20,1914. 1,291,554. Patented Jan. 14, 1919.

' 6 SHEETS-SHEET 5 A. L. KOENIG.

CARBONATOR.

APPLICATION man APR.20. 1914.

Patented Jan. 14, 1919.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

r l o I u 2 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALPHONSO L. KOENIG, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE KOENIGCARBONATORS, (INC.), A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

CARBON ATOR.

Application filed April 20, 1914.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALPHoNso L. KOENIG, a subject of the Emperor ofAustria, residing at Chicago, county of Cook, State of Illinois, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Oarbonators, anddeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of thesame, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertainsto make and use the same, refer ence being had to the accompanyingdrawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to apparatus for carbonating liquid and deliveringthe same in a condition for immediate use or for storage in a siphon orother vessel. Specifically considered my invention relates to improvements in the construction shown in my prior Patent 1,028,365, grantedJune 4, 1912 and has for its object so to improve the structural detailsand the relation of parts of such an apparatus as to make the apparatussimple in construction and highly etficient and economical in operation.

A further object of my invention is so to construct and arrange theparts of a carbonating apparatus that inspection, repair and replacementof various parts may easily and conveniently be made.

A further object of my invention is to produce a simple and novelarrangement which will permit carbonated liquid to be delivered ordispensed successfully either at a high pressure or at a low pressure.

The various features of novelty whereby my invention is characterizedwill hereinafter he pointed out with particularity in the claims; but,for a full understanding of my invention and of its various objects andadvantages, reference may be had to the following detailed descriptiontaken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of an apparatus arranged in accordancewith a preferred form of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section taken approximately through thecarbonator in a plane at right angles to the plane of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the carbonator;

Fig. 4 is asection on an enlarged scale taken approximately on line 4-4of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a section on a scale correspond- Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Jan. 14, 1919.

Serial No. 833,041.

ing to Fig. 4 taken approximately on line 5 5 of Flg. 3;

Fig. 6 is a. section taken approximately on line 66 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a section on line 77 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a section on line 88 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is a section taken approximately on line 99 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 10 is a section taken on line 1010 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 11 is a section taken approximately on line 11-11 of Fig. 4,showing the condition of the parts during the operation of dispensingcarbonated liquid at a high pressure;

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 11, illustrating the condition of theparts during the operation of dispensing carbonated liquid at a lowpressure;

Fig. 13 is a horizontal section on an enlarged scale through the doublehandle which controls the discharge of carbonated liquid both at highpressure and at low pressure;

Fig. 14 is a side elevation of a fragment of one of the parts of thehandle;

Fig. 17;

Fig. 19 is a section on line 19-19 of Fig. 17

Fig. 20 is'a section on line 20 of Fig. 16;

Fig. 21 is a view similar to Fig. 20, showing the condition of thediaphragm during the charging operation;

Fig. 22 is a detail of the outlet end of the delivery pipe for theliquid to be carbonated;

As in my aforesaid patent, the carbonating apparatus comprises ingeneral a strong receptacle having a perforated rubber diaphragm acrossthe bottom, together with means for admitting liquid to be carbonatedand compressed gas for charging the liquid; as well as various valvesand connections for controlling the incoming liquid and gas and plate.

the discharge of carbonated liquid; and my invention relates toimprovements in these various features.

As will best be seen from Figs. 2 and 15 of the drawings, the mainportion of the carbonator comprises a strong vessel 1, preferablycylindrical in form and flaring outwardly at the base which is open.Vithin the opening at the base, and at some distance from the bottomedge is an internal annular shoulder, 2, facing outwardly and lying nextto the cylindrical wall of the base portion. Between this shoulder and astrong heavy plate, 3, is clamped a thick perforated rubber diaphragm 4.The plate 3 and the shoulder 2 are preferably provided with circulargrooves, 5 and 6 and the upper, outer edge of the plate is preferablybeveled as indicated at 7 thus permitting annular ridges to be formedalong that p, rtion of the rubber which lies between the shoulder andthe plate, when the plate is fastened securely in position andpreventing the withdrawal of the rubber. diaphragm is a spider, 8,similar to the one shown in my aforesaid patent, for shaping the uppersurface of the diaphragm into a series of short arches as viewed inradial section or a series of concentric convex rings as viewed in theplan. The plate 3 may be fastened in position in any suitable way,preferably by means of bolts or heavy screws, 9, which pass through theplate and into the annular shoulder 2. In the top of the plate 3 is aradial channel, 10, extending diametrically across the same, although itmay of course take any other suitable shape or course. Through thecenter of the plate is an opening, 11, counter-sunk on the upper,

side for the purpose of receiving a screw plug, 12, which in turn has anopening 13 registering with the smaller section of the opening 11. Theplug 12 has a head 14 on the upper end by which it may be screwed inplace, the length of the plug being such that the bottom of the headdoes not quite touch the bottom of the channel or concavity 10 in thetop of the plate. Just underneath the head of the plug is a transversepassage, 15, communicating with the opening 13. Therefore compressed gasintroduced from beneath the plate 3 through the opening 11, passes upthrough the plug and is deflected laterally by the under side of thehead into the channel or concavity in the top of the On the under sideof the plate is fixed a hollow bar or casting, 16, extending from thecenter to the side which is the front of the carbonator. The member 16has therein a passage 17 which communicates at v one end with theopening 11 and at its other end with an opening or passage 18 extendingup through the plate 3 and the edge of the rubber disk at the front ofthe machine where it terminates in a forwardly extend- Above the rubberi little carbon dioxid. I have found that by ing branch, 19, having itsoutlet in the fiat front of a block 20 secured to or forming part of thebase of the receptacle, As will hereinafter appear, the compressed gaswith which liquid contained in the receptacle is to be charged, isintroduced beneath the diaphragm through the passages or channels 19,18, 17 and 11.

It is characteristic of rubber that when compressed carbon dioxid ispassed through a perforated disk made of such material, such as the disk4 in the present instance, in order to charge the overlying body ofwater, the carbon dioxid seems to collect in a thin film and across thesurface in contact with the water. When the pressure in the system isrelieved in order to permit the discharged water to be dispensed at alow pressure this free carbon dioxid appears to shoot up through thewater and gather up the molecules of carbon dioxid in its path so thatgreat quantities of gaswhich should stay in the water are given off andthe Water which is dispensed is fiat and contains very covering theupper surface of the rubber disk or bottom with a fabric, preferablysilk, this objectionable action is overcome and water may be dispensedfully charged and will retain the carbon dioxid for a long time. Itherefore cover the top of the disk or diaphragm with a fine fabric, 21,preferably of silk, secured in any suitable way to the diaphragm.

As explained in my aforesaid patent, the perforations through thediaphragm should be such that when the diaphragm or disk lies flat theupper surface will present a substantially unbroken appearance, theoutlet ends of the openings or perforations being closed as nearly aspossible. It is impossible to form these perforations without leavingslight. burs and therefore even when the outlet ends of the perforationsare substantially closed there will be, in the ordinary arrangement,numerous minute projections which militate greatly against permanency inthe charging of the liquid. The fabric covering, however, will serve toconceal these little projections to a great extent so that there will besubstantially no rubber in contact with the water when the diaphragmlies flat. However, I have devised means for greatly reducing the amountof roughness on the rubber itself, such means consisting in cutting longslits into the top surface of the rubber through the fabric and leadingthe perforations through the rubber from the bottom of these slits. Theslits may have any desired length and be disposed in any desired way.The slits can most conveniently be formed in circles or preferably inasingle spiral as indicated at 22, the spiral beginning at the center ofthe diaphragm and continuing out to the point where the diaphragmengages the holding surfaces between which it is clamped in place. Theperforations are then formed by cutting through the rubber with a thinflat tapered knife, the flat side of which engages with the sides ofthat portion of the groove at which a perforation is being made. In thisway perforations 23, extending from the bottoms of the groove almost toor en tirely to the bottom surface of the diaphragm are produced, theseperforations having the appearance of wedge-shaped openings when viewedin the direction at right angles to the length of the spiral slit, andthe appearance of simple straight slits when Viewed in the direction ofthe length of the spiral slit; Figs. 17 and 20 being views taken in thetwo directions transverse to and along the spiral slit. On the underside of the diaphragm I prefer to have each perforation terminate in adownwardly and outwardly-flaring mouth 24. When the diaphragm lies flatthe spiral slit is closed as indicated in Figs. 16 and 20 while theperforations are also closed as indicated in these two figures. When thediaphragm is subjected to pressure from beneath, It changes from thecondition shown in Fig. 20 to that shown in Fig. 21, the slit or slits22 opening and the perforations 23 being expanded from mere slits toinverted conical openings having conical mouths on the under side of thediaphragm, and the compressed gas passes up through these openings andout through the top of the sllts 22 which now have the shape of channelsor grooves. The fragment marked A in Fig. 16 shows the condition of thelower ends of the perforatione 23 when the disk is fiat while Fig. 18shows how the perforations have been expanded into rounded openings atthis point. In the same way the fragment marked B in Fig 16 shows thecondition of the outlet ends of the perforations 23 while the diaphragmlies fiat, while Fig. 19 shows how these outlet ends of the perforationshave been expanded into round openings of considerable size.

The silk covering for the rubber possesses the further advantage ofholding the water in the carbonator out of contact with the rubber sothat the water standing in the carbonator for a considerable length oftime is not affected in any way by the rubber.

One of the principal features of my invention has to do with the valvemechanism for controlling the fiow of the fluids and governing thepressures so as to make it possible to dispense the charge liquidsatisfactorily.

The valve mechanism is all contained in or carried by a block 25 securedto the front face of the member 20, placing this mechanism in a compactform and permitting all of the fitting and finishing to be done on acomparatively small piece which is afterward attached to the base of thereceptacle. The member 25 has a port or passage 26 registering with thepassage 19 inthe member 20; a passage 27 registering with a passage 28through the member 20; a passage29 registering with a passage 30 throughthe member 20; and a passage 31 registering with a passage 32 throughthe member 20. The passages 26 and 19 are for the purpose of conveylngcompressed gas to the under side of the diaphragm forming the innerbottom of the main receptacle; the passages 27 and 28 are for supplyingwater to be charged into the receptacle, the passage 28 leading into thelower end of a pipe 33 contained in the receptacle and extending to apoint near the top thereof; the fresh water therefore entering thereceptacle at the top without disturbing the charged water which thereceptacle happens to contain at a time when fresh water is entering.The passages 29 and 30 are for the purpose of conducting charged waterfrom the receptacle, the passage 30 opening into the receptacle at apoint just above the flexible bottom, so that the charged water iswithdrawn from that portion of the mass of water in the receptacle whichis certain to be the most highly charged; and the passages 31 and 32 arefor the purpose of permitting the escape of ac cumulated gas above thecharged water when water is to be delivered or dispensed at a lowpressure, the passage 32 communicating with an open-ended pipe 34contained in the receptacle and extending up to a point above the highwater level in the receptacle. In addition to the passages which I havejust described and which may be termed the main passages, there are a.number of other registering passages between the members 20 and 25. Thusthe member 20 contains within itself a U-shaped tunnel or channel 35connecting the main gas passage 19 with a passage 36 opening out of thefront face of the member 20, and the passage 36 registers with a passage37 in the block or valve casing 25. Directly above the passage 36 is asimilar passage 38 connected to another similar passage 39, lying belowthe passage 32, by a channel or tunnel 40 contained in the member 20. Inthe member 25 are passages 41 and 42 registering, respectively, with thepassages 38 and 39. A portion of the tunnel or channel 40 lies near thetop of the member 20 and at separated points therein are screw-threadedopenings extending out through the top and normally closed by screws 43and 44, the screws being removable for testing purposes as willhereinafter appear.

tical chamber open at the bottom of the valve casing. In this chamber,below the passage 26, is an upwardly-seating valve 46 having a stem 47extending up through the top of the valve casing, and provided with aspring 48 which constantly tends to seat the valve. In the same way, thefresh-water passage 27 opens into a valve chamber 49 open at the bottomand containing a valve 50 similar to but larger than the valve 46, thevalve 50 having a stem 51 extending up through the top of the casing andbeing provided with a spring 52 which constantly tends to close it.Compressed gas and a liquid are delivered to the valve chambers 45 and49, respectively, through pipes 53 and 54, respectively.

I prefer to attach the pipes 53 and 54 to the valve casing in such amanner that they may be detached easily, permitting the casing to betaken off the carbonator without disturbing the pipes and leaving thecasing free from the pipes when it is removed. To this end I screw orotherwise attach the pipes 53 and 54 to a fitting 55 which is detachablyfastened to the underside of the valve casing in any convenient way andbrings the pipes (or passages in the fitting which in effect formcontinuations of the pipes,) into registration with the valve' chambers45 and 49. Suitable annular packing rings 56 and 57, arranged betweenthe fitting and the casing about the mouths of the valve chambers, serveto make the joint gas-tight and water-tight. I prefer to provide thefitting with a hub or annular flange 58 adapted to fit within the lowerend of the valve chamber 49 and thus accurately position the fitting andholding it' against bodily lateral displacement. The manner of securingthe fitting in place is best shown in Fig. 7, there being two holes, 59,bored vertically through the valve casing at a point between the valvechambers 45 and 49, the openings being reduced in size near the bottomto provide upwardly-facing shoulders 60. Screws 61 are inserted throughthe holes until the heads rest upon the shoulders, the lower ends of thescrews passing down into the fitting. By tightening the screws thefitting is drawn tightly against the underside of the valve casing. Thevalve casing itself is preferably fastened to the base of the receptacleby means of two strong screws 62 passing through it from front to back,and therefore the valve casing may quickly be detached from thereceptacle and from the supply pipes by simply unfastening four screws.

The passage 29, for charged water, opens into a valve chamber 63 butbelow an upwardly-closing valve 64 instead of above such a valve as isthe case with the gas and fresh water passages 26 and 27. The valve 64has a stem 65 extending out through naensaa the top of the casing andthere is a spring 66 beneath the valve for normally holding it closed.The valve chamber 63 preferably opens out through the bottom of thecasing, a closure in the form of a screw plug, 67, being providedtherefor. As will be'seen most clearly in Figs. 11 and 12, the valvechamber 63 communicates at its upper end with a faucet 70 through whichthe charged water is delivered when the valve 64 is open.

The passages 37 and 41 communicate with a valve chamber 71, the onebelow and the other above a normally seated upwardlyseating valve 72having a stem 73 exteriding up through the top of the casing. Beneaththe valve is a spring 74 resting upon a plug 75 screwed into and forminga closure for the bottom of the valve chamber.

The passages 31 and 42 communicate with a valve chamber 76, the oneabove and the 85 other below a normally closed upwardlyseating valve 77having a stem 78 projecting up through the top of the valve casing. Aspring 79 beneath the valve serves to hold it normally closed. Into thebottom of the valve chamber is screwed a coupling 80 to which isattached a flexible tube 81 leading to the flexible container 82 similarto the container 75 in my aforesaid patent.

The several valve stems are preferably arranged in a single straight rowextending across the top of the valve casing and each is provided with asuitable packing to prevent the escape of fluid. In the arrangementshown, the valve casing is counter- 100 bored around the upper end ofeach valve stem, as indicated at- 83, and in each counterbore is asuitable packing 84 held in place by a nut 85 surrounding and having asliding fit on the stem. Each stem, in its extreme upper position,projects only a slight distance above the nut which ,holds the packingin place, thus reducing the danger of corrosion of the stems to aminimum. In the upper end of each stem I preferto place a small piece ofhard steel, a, having only its upper surface exposed. Thus a hardwearlng surface is obtained in such a manner that no steel surfaces,except the actual wearing surface at the top, is exposed, and rusting ofthe steel is therefore prevented.

The faucet 70 is so designed that charged water may successfully bedelivered thereby either at a high pressure or at a low pressure. Tothis end there is arranged in the faucet a valve 86 lying between theinlet end and the outlet end. The valve has a vertical stem 87projecting out through the faucet, and through the upper end of thisstem is connected to the front or outer end of a lever 88 pivotallysupported between its ends, at 89, in a slot 90 in the top of the valvecasing. Under the rear end of the lever is a spring 91 which, actingthrough the lever, normally holds the valve 86 closed. The valve 86 hasa small port or passage, 92, extending therethrough so that the inletend of the faucet and the outlet end are always in communication witheach other, the communication being through the restricted passage orport when the valve 86 is closed and being full and unrestricted whenthe valve is open.

In order to dis ense charged waterat high pressure it is su cient toshut off the incoming water and the incoming gas and admit the chargedwater to the faucet while the valve in the faucet remains closed; thecharged water being discharged through the restricted passage in thefaucet. In other words, for dispensing charged water at a high pressureit is only necessary to allow the valves 46 and 50 to close and thevalve 64 to open; no operation of the valve 86 in the faucet or of thevalves 72 and 77 in the valve casing being required. In order todispense water at a low pressure, the gas pressure in the top of thereceptacle and beneath the rubber diaphragm must be released and a fullopening through the faucet must be provided. Therefore, for dispensingwater at a low pressure, the valves 72 and 77 in the casing and thevalve 86 in the faucet must be opened in addition to opening the valve64 and closing the valves 46 and 50. I have therefore provided asimpledivided operating handle or double operating handle by means ofwhich the proper relation of parts may be obtained for dis pensin eitherat a high or a low pressure.

In tie arrangement shown, the stems of the valves 46, 50 and 64constitute one group of members to be controlled, while the stems of thevalves 72 and 77 and the lever 88 constitute a second group of suchmembers; these two roups lying side by side as viewed from the 'ront ofthe carbonator. Two cam bars, 93 and 94, are mounted on top of the valvecasing, each in operative relation to one of said groups of members tobe controlled. In the particular arrangement illustrated, these cam barslie between ears 95 and 96 and between the ear 96 and an ear 97,respectively; a stationary shaft 98 passing through the three ears andthe two cam bars and holding the bars revolubly in place. The cam bar 93has an arm 99 extending forwardly therefrom and at right angles theretowhile the cam bar 94 has a similar, similarly disposed arm 100. The arm100 has at its front end a grip or handhold 101, fixed at one end to thearm and projecting laterally into proximity to the front end of the arm99. As best shown in Figs. 13 and 14, the front end of the arm 99 has inthe side facing the other arm a curved slot 102, closed at the top andopen at the bottom, the slot being curved in the are of a circle havingthe pivotal axis of the arm for a center. On the free end of the grip orhand hold is a projection, 103, adapted to be received in the curvedslot, 102. It will be seen that if the arm 99 is grasped and lifted, thegrip or handhold 101 will remain at rest; the cam bar 93 being actuatedwithout affecting the other cam bar. On the other hand, if the handholdor grip is grasped and raised it will lift both the arm 100 and the arm99 and will actuate both cam bars.

In the cam bars are set segmental steel inserts I) each in a position tocooperate with one of the valve stems; these inserts, like those in thestems, having no exposed surfaces which can be attacked by rust when theapparatus is in use.

The flexible container 82 with its valve 105 is identical with therubber bag 75 and its valve in my prior patent and therefore requires noother explanation than that it is intended to receive gas from thecarbonator, allow such gas to escape, if necessary to produce thedesired low pressure for dispensing charged water at lowpressure, andsupply the charging receptacle with gas as charged water is withdrawn tocompensate for the water so withdrawn.

The upper or outlet end of the fresh water pipe 33 is preferablyprovided with a simple gravity-actuated check valve, 107, having aconcave rubber disk 108 on its face. This valve permits the delivery ofwater but prevents charged water from being forced back into the pipe 33in case the water level rises above the top of the pipe and the pressurein the receptacle is greater than the pressure in the fresh-water main.A suitable removable plug, 109, in the top of the receptacle just abovethe check valve allows access to be had to the valve.

The operation is as follows: The valves 46 and 50 being normally openwhen the operating handle is in its position of rest, water flows fromthe pipe 54 past the valve 50,

'through the passages 27. 28 and the pipe 3.3

into the receptacle. Compressed gas flows from the supply pipe 53through the restricted passage 53*, past the valve 46, through thepassages and channels 26, 19, 18, 17, 11, 13 and 15 into the channel orconcavity 10 on the under side of the rubber diaphragm 4. As the gasaccumulates under the diaphragm and the pressure rises, the diaphragmassumes the configuration illustrated in Figs. 15 and 21, gas bubblesrising up through the perforations 23 and slits 22 and entering thewater to charge the same. Some of the gas bubbles pass up through thewater and rise into the space in' the top of the receptacle so thateventually the vessel becomes filled with charged water above which is abody of gas having the approximately same pressure as that beneath thediaphragm. When the ressure in the receptacle becomes greater t an thepressure of the incoming'water the check valve 107 closes and no morewater enters. When the pressure on opposite sides of the diaphragmbecomes equalized, the resiliency of the diaphragm causes it to flattenout, closing the slits and perforations, so that no more gas enters.

When it is desired to dispense water at a high pressure, the member 99of the operating handle is raised, (as shown in Fig. 11) causing the gasvalve 46 and then the water valve 50 to close, and finally opening thevalve 64 controlling the outlet to the faucet. Charged water under highpressure now flows directly from the bottom of the receptacle, where themost highly charged Water is always to be found, through the passages 30and 29, and past the valve 64 to the faucet where it must go through therestricted port or passage 92 before being discharged. The charged wateris therefore delivered at a high pressure but in restricted quantitiesso that it is under-complete control.

When it is desired to dispense charged water at a low pressure, theentire operating handle is raised by grasping the grip or handhold 101.This results in the following cycle of operations: The main gas valve 46and then the fresh water valve 50 are closed; then the valves 72 and 77are opened in succession; and finally the valve 86 in the nozzle and thevalve 64 are opened, although it is immaterial at just what stage thevalve 86 is opened, it being preferably opened simultaneously with or inadvance of the valve 64. What follows from this manipulation of thevalves is this: The supply of compressed gas and of fresh water is cutoff by valves 46 and 50; then the space beneath the rubber diaphragm isconnected to the flexible container 82 through the tunnel 35, (whichconnects with the supply passage 19) passages 36 and 37, past the valve72, through the passages 41 and 38, through the tunnel 40, passages 39and 42, through the lower portion of the valve chamber 7 6, and throughthe flexible conduit 81; the gas space or chamber in the top of the mainreceptacle is connected to the container 82 through pipes 34 in thereceptacle, through the passages 32 and 31, through the valve chamber 76past the open valve 77, and through the conduit 81; and a free passagefrom the interior of the receptacle through the faucet is providedthrough the opening of the valves 86 and 64. In other words, through themere raising of the handle, the water and gas supply are shut off, thegas space in the receptacle and beneath the rubber diaphragm areconnected to the flexible container and the pressure reduced, and thenthe faucet is opened to permit charged water to be delivered under thelow pressure so produced. As the charged water is dispensed, gas flowsback from the container 82 into the receptacle to take the plalce of thewater which has left the receptac e.

hen the handle is released, the valves 64, 72 and 77 and the valve 86 inthe faucet automatically close while the gas valve 46 and the watervalve 50 automatically open. Consequently water and gas enter thereceptacle in the manner heretofore described so as to replenish thesupply of charged water.

It will be seen that if the valves 46 and 50 should happen to leak alittle it would be of no consequence, while a leak in the valve 64 wouldimmediately be detected by a dripping at the faucet. However, should thevalve 72 or the valve 7 7 leak, there would be a continuous loss ofcompressed gas. Furthermore, if such a leak should be discovered, itwould be difficult to determine whether it occurred at the valve 72 orat the valve'77. I have therefore provided the set screws 43 and 44 atopposite ends of an arm of the tunnel 40 which connects with thechambers containing the valves 72 and 77. By removing these screws andnoting from which of the openings thus left there is an escape of gas,if either or both of the valves are leaking so that there will be escaping gas, the Valve which is at fault can quickly be discovered.

I claim:

1. In a carbonator, the combination of a receptacle for liquid, meansfor admitting liquid to said receptacle, a perforated rubber disk in thelower portion of the receptacle, a fabric coating on the upper side ofsaid disk, and means for admitting compressed gas below the disk.

2. In a carbonator, the combination of a receptacle for liquid, aperforated disk of rubber in the bottom of the receptacle, a covering ofthin flexible material on the upper side of the disk and surrounding theperforations therein, and means for supplying compressed gas beneath thedisk.

3. In a carbonator, the combination of a receptacle for liquid, meansincluding a perforated rubber member for admitting minutestreams ofcompressed gas into the receptacle, a covering of thin flexible materialfor the rubber on the side next to the liquid, and means for admittinggas under pressure upon the opposite side of the rubber.

4. In a carbonator, the combination of a also perforations extendingthrough the same from the bottoms of said grooves.

6. A device for use in carbonator-s comprising a rubber disk havingnumerous long slits cut partway through the same from one side thereofand also having perforations extending at intervals from the bottom ofthe slits to the opposite side.

7. A device for use in carbonators comprising a rubber disk havingnumerous long slits cut partway through the same from one side thereofand .also having perforations extending at intervals from the bottom ofthe slits to the opposite side, the ends of the perforations on thelatter side of the disk being enlarged.

8. A device for use in carbona-tors comprising a rubber disk havingnumerous grooves cut into the same and having also perforations extendinthrough the same from the bottoms of sald grooves.

9. In combination with a carbonator, an expansible receptacle, aconnection from the said receptacle to the top of the carbonator, acombined cut-off and safety valve located in said connection andarranged to open .outwardly from the carbonator, a spring for holdingthe valve closed against pressure in the carbonator, and amanually-operable device for opening said valve.

10. In combination, a carbonator for containing carbonated liquid, meansincluding a perforated rubber disk contacting on the inner side with theliquid in the carbonator for introducing gas under pressure into thecarbonator, an expansible receptacle, and means for simultaneouslyconnecting the top of the carbonator and the space on the outer side ofthe disk with said receptacle.

11. In combination, a receptacle for carbonated liquid, a perforatedrubber disk forming an inner false bottom for the receptacle, means forintroducing liquid into the receptacle at a point above the disk, a gasconduit opening into/the center of the bottom of the receptacle belowthe disk, and

a deflector arranged over the discharge end of the gas conduit for thepurpose of spreading the incoming gas.

12. In combination, a receptacle for carbonated liquid, a perforatedrubber disk forming an inner false bottom for the receptacle, means forintroducing liquid into the receptacle at a point above the disk, theupper surface of the main bottom of the receptacle being concave, a gasconduit opening into the receptacle at the lowest point in the concaveupper surface of the main bottom, and means for simultaneouslydischarging liquid from said receptacle and venting said conduit.

- 13. A carbonator having a false bottom in the form of a perforatedrubber disk and a passage for gas under pressure opening beneath saiddisk, a gas pipe connected to said assa e the )i)e and the assa ecommunicating with each other through a minute opening, and a valve insaid passage. 14. In a carbonator, two independent pressure-reliefvalves one subjected to the pres sure in the carbonator and the other tothe pressure on the inlet side of the carbonator, there being a passageextending between the outlet sides of the valves, and there being alsotwo separated test openings leading from said passages, one of saidopenings being nearest to one of said valves and the other opening beingnearest to the other valve.

15. A device for use in carbonators comprising a rubber disk slittedpartway through the same in long spirals and also having perforationsextending at intervals from the bottom of the slits to the opposite sideof the disk.

In testimony whereof, I sign this specification in the presence of twowitnesses.

ALPHONSO L. KOENIG.

Witnesses WM. F. FREUDENREICH, RUTH E. ZETTERVALL.

